WI Dems say they have the signatures to recall GOP state senator

From NBC's Mark MurrayWisconsin Democrats are announcing that they are filing their petition today -- with enough valid signatures, they say -- to recall GOP state Sen. Dan Kapanke.

If enough signatures are found to be valid, Kapanke would become the first Wisconsin state legislator to face a recall election after Gov. Scott Walker's (R) move to curb state employees' collective-bargaining rights passed.

Democrats are targeting seven other GOP state senators who supported Walker's effort. Republicans, meanwhile, say they are trying to recall Democratic state senators who fled the state during the budget fight.

Once the signatures are filed (15,588 valid signatures are needed to trigger a recall against Kapanke), the state's Government Accountability Board has 31 days to review the petition. Once the board declares there are enough valid signatures, a recall election would occur on the sixth Tuesday (so six weeks) after sufficiency is determined.

If more than two candidates compete for the election, then that contest serves as the primary, and the general election will be held four weeks after that.